BlueTechValley April Newsletter

President Showcase of Excellence

The 3^rd Annual President’s Showcase of Excellence at Fresno State celebrated the stories and successes and innovations at the university. On Friday April 21, 2017 Fresno State President Joseph Castro saluted over 80 exhibitors showcasing their progress from various campus departments and organizations such as academic/administrative excellence, individual achievement, student services, and cutting-edge programs.

The BlueTechValley Innovation Cluster was a part of this strategic event highlighting the campus success. The innovation cluster effort for Fresno State engagement covers two-thirds of the state and aims to accelerate the commercialization of water, energy, and ag technologies and to connect emerging technologies to region-specific needs and opportunities. To cover these 39 of California’s 58 counties, Fresno State is engaging a network of hubs located at other California State University campuses in Bakersfield, Chico, Humboldt, Monterey Bay and Sacramento and at the Sierra Small Business Development Center in Truckee. Additional partners, including the University of California Berkeley and University of California Davis, will assist in delivering a regionally-based program for water, energy and ag technology innovators and entrepreneurs.

The President’s Showcase of Excellence was a great opportunity to come together to share, learn, and reflect and celebrate all the exceptional work that is happening all across the Fresno State campus. The BlueTechValley Innovation Cluster shows how we have grown and developed engagement towards the community increasing support for both students and the university.

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Cleantech Open Accelerator

Cleantech Open is a cleantech accelerator that provides entrepreneurs and innovators the resources they need to launch and grow a successful cleantech business. Their innovation has been developed over the last 10 years of programming strategic innovation hubs in the U.S. by connecting labs and universities, service providers, investors, corporations, governments, and other cleantech incubators and accelerators. Through their accelerator program they provide over 100 companies in the U.S. with a program of customer innovation, mentoring, training, meetings, startup matching, and showcasing them at regional and national levels. Cleantech is dedicated to working with cleantech startups giving them the tools to work with mentors, access to a network of professional businesses, and opportunities to attend clinics and webinars that provide the necessary skills that would take their business forward.

Since partnering with the Water, Energy, and Technology Center, Cleantech has expanded their Western Region office from San Francisco to the Central Valley. Bruce Witney, director for the Western Division stated, “Cleantech Open provides the infrastructure, expertise and strategic relationships that turn early stage ideas into successful cleantech companies.” They anticipate opening a meteor office in Fresno soon to help develop startups with connections in the Central Valley.

Learn more about Cleantech Open and start an application!

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In The News iStock_000009066352XLarge_infrastructure_resized-1

Energy Commission Approves Research Grants

Western Growers' Nassif wins 2017 Agriculturalist of the Year Award

Jain Irrigation to acquire 80% stake in two US entities

Imagine H2O Announces Winners of CA Water Policy Challenge

Team Member Highlight
Helle Petersen
Project Manager - WET Center

Helle Petersen grew up in Denmark and moved to Fresno when her husband accepted a job in the wine industry. She was accepted into the Craig School of Business executive MBA Program when she first arrived in Fresno. Being an alumni of Fresno State she decided to stay in the Central Valley. Besides working, she loves spending time with family on the weekends, volunteering within the community, and escaping to the mountains during the winter.

Helle serves as the project manager for the Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center at California State University, Fresno. She is responsible for the business development incubator. “Our duty is to take entrepreneurs or existing businesses that want to accelerate their businesses and equip them with the right tools to grow their businesses successfully.” She expressed that, “My job is challenging and like herding cats at times because there is so many partners.”

Upcoming Events

2017 Clean Tech Open Accelerator
Deadline May 1, 2017
We are now taking applications for the 2017 Accelerator! Apply now to learn & pitch, connect & build your network, and accelerate your company!
Apply Now

National Small Business Week Celebration in Fresno
May 5, 2017

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On Friday, May 5th from 8am - noon, the U.S. Small Business Administration invites you to celebrate National Small Business Week at the Fresno Convention Center with SBA Administrator Linda McMahon. The event is free with limited seating. Register at http://bit.ly/2oQrTfg

Free Electrons Pitch Day
May 5, 2017

Free Electrons Pitch Day 2017 is the inaugural public showcase of 12 energy startups selected for the the world’s first global energy accelerator. Free Electrons facilitates later-stage energy startups to scale into international markets and tap into existing utility customer bases.

These startups will embark on three ‘customer adoption’ modules across four countries spread over six months, where they’ll learn about challenges utilities are facing and how to address them. At the same time, startups will get to experience a full immersion in the local energy ecosystem by meeting with industry experts, investors and startups. The goal is to help facilitate new contracts, set up pilot projects and pioneer a new way of working together to build the energy system of the future.

Apply for an invitation to come meet the startups!

2017 Ag Innovation Showcase
May 8 & 9, 2017
Twelve early stage food and agriculture entrepreneurs will take the stage to share their innovation commercialization stories at Ag Innovation Showcase in Davis on May 8 and 9. These companies offer solutions to problems in high value crop cultivation, animal production, and food technologies in the areas of: food safety, food value and nutrition, animal health, and precision/digital agriculture. For tickets http://bit.ly/2p8sVG7

2017 Big Bang! Final Presentations + Awards Ceremony
May 25, 2017

Keynote speaker Ejnar Knudsen is founder and CEO of investment firm AGR Partners, which moved its headquarters to Davis last summer to be closer to the food and agriculture hub around UC Davis. Over the past three years, AGR has invested more than $230 million into seven leading agribusiness and food companies.

Following the keynote address, the top five Big Bang! finalists will pitch their presentations to the crowd.We will announce the 1st and 2nd place and sponsored award winners will be announced, as well as this year's three new challenge awards. Audience members will vote for People's Choice Award. Registration

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Or Contact Us bluetechvalley@csufresno.edu